Jamel Dean

CB · Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals · 50 graded snaps

Replacement

Dean had a mixed replacement-level outing, balancing a standout third-down pass breakup against Tee Higgins with multiple first-down conversions surrendered from soft off-cushion alignments.

Coverage6248Run defense682

The full breakdown

Dean earned a 63.3 replacement-level grade due to inconsistency in coverage, where his high-end reps were counterbalanced by soft cushions on conversion downs. His top moment came in Q3 (8:31, 3rd & 9), where he used textbook press-man technique to break up a pass to Tee Higgins. However, playing with excessive depth earlier on 2nd & 8 (Q1 09:07) and 3rd & 10 (Q3 01:11) led directly to open first-down completions to Higgins. When triggering downhill, Dean showed reliable tackling against short passes and stout run support, notably shedding Higgins to stop Chase Brown in Q4 (15:00).

Strengths

Press-man coverage technique
Downhill tackling on short passes
Perimeter run support

Weaknesses

Excessive off-coverage cushion
Perimeter block shedding in space

Plays that moved the grade

+1.5Q3 08:31, 3rd & 9Smothered Tee Higgins in press-man coverage and drove cleanly on the out break to swat the ball away.
+1Q4 15:00, 2nd & 5Quickly triggered on an inside zone run, shed Tee Higgins' perimeter block, and made the tackle on Chase Brown for a 3-yard gain.
-0.5Q3 01:11, 3rd & 10Conceded an easy 17-yard first down on an out route to Tee Higgins due to giving heavy off-cushion in zone coverage.

Every graded snap · 7 wins or losses, 43 routine

-0.5Q1 10:21 · 3 & 2 · CoverageGets sealed on the sideline by Higgins' stalk block, failing to disengage and contain the perimeter.
-0.5Q1 09:07 · 2 & 8 · CoverageGives up generous cushion on 2nd & 8 and cannot drive on the ball in time to contest the catch, surrendering a 10-yard first-down conversion before tackling Higgins.
+0.5Q1 08:02 · 1 & 15 · CoverageReads Burrow's release instantly, breaks downhill on Hudson, and secures the solo tackle.
+0.5Q2 12:13 · 2 & 10 · CoverageReads Burrow's quick trigger, drives downhill immediately from off alignment, and makes a secure tackle on Gesicki.
+1.5Q3 08:31 · 3 & 9 · CoverageExecutes textbook press-man technique on Higgins, drives seamlessly on the out break, and reaches through to swat the ball away.
-0.5Q3 01:11 · 3 & 10 · CoveragePlays with heavy off-cushion on 3rd & 10 and concedes an open out route underneath his break, making the tackle after the conversion.
+1Q4 15:00 · 2 & 5 · Run defenseTriggers quickly on the run, sheds/beats the block of Higgins, and makes the primary tackle on Brown for a 3-yard gain.

Jamel Dean's season grades →